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Why visit Tarangire National Park?
Tarangire National Park in northern Tanzania is a place of giant baobabs, fever tree forests, shimmering swamps fed by the Tarangire River - and sweeping vistas. In the middle of the park, the Silale Swamp becomes the primary water source, attracting predators and large herds of elephants as the dry season peaks.
The Tarangire great migration
Tarangire is part of an enormous ecosystem that includes Lake Manyara, the Maasai Steppe, and the area from Lake Natron to Mount Kilimanjaro.
Every year during the dry season, the Tarangire River becomes one of the only available sources of water, and tens of thousands of animals are drawn to its banks and floodplains from miles in every direction. These include several species of antelope, buffalo, giraffe and zebra. Elephants also arrive in their hundreds, and Tarangire is believed to have one of the largest elephant populations in Tanzania.
More than a great stopover
Tarangire is often treated simply as a stopover between Arusha and the more popular destinations such as Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park. Yet those visitors who opt to explore this varied and fascinating national park are richly rewarded by one of Africa’s most underrated safari destinations. With its magnificent scenery and abundance of wildlife, Tarangire National Park has all the ingredients needed for the perfect safari.
READ MORE about Tarangire National Park.
Tarangire quick facts & tips
The lions of the Silale Swamps are particularly renowned for their marshy hunting techniques and their habit of lounging in the boughs of trees, perhaps to escape the tsetse flies.
Avoid the crowds: Despite offering mind-boggling wildlife concentrations during peak times, Tarangire remains one of Tanzania’s best-kept, uncrowded secrets even during the tourism high season (June to August).
Bush & beach: Pair your Tarangire with one of the Spice Islands - Zanzibar | Pemba | Mafia.
What wildlife can I expect to see in Tarangire National Park?
Tarangire is home to one of the greatest concentrations of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem, especially during the dry season when large herds of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, eland, hartebeest, and buffalo assemble near the river or around residual pools in the swamps. This concentration of prey serves to attract the attention of predators, particularly lions and hyenas. Leopard, cheetah, wild dog and striped hyena are also present.
Tarangire is also an elephant paradise, with herds of up to 300 at times!
Away from the wetter areas of the park, visitors may even be fortunate enough to spot a gerenuk or fringe-eared oryx, making Tarangire one of the few places in Tanzania to see these arid specialists.
Tarangire’s diverse habitats make it one of Tanzania’s top birding hotspots, with over 500 species, including the yellow-collared lovebird, vulturine guineafowl, red-and-yellow barbet, northern pied babbler and the endemic rufous-tailed weaver and the ashy starling.
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Tarangire FAQs
The Tarangire dry season runs from June to October, and it is during this period that the river and swamp become crucial to the wildlife. The lack of other water sources draws wildlife to water here, making them easier to find. The thinner vegetation during the dry season also makes it easier to spot wildlife. Large concentrations of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, eland, hartebeest, and buffalo assemble near the river or around residual pools in the swamps, along with the predators that follow them.
There are two rainy seasons in Tarangire, similar to most of East Africa, with ‘short rains’ falling during November and December and the much heavier downpours of the ‘long rains’ occurring in March and April.
Peak season bookings (July–October) require 12–18 months advance planning. Trips outside of peak season can be arranged 6–9 months ahead, with better rates and availability.
Safaris to Tarangire typically cost from US$700 per person, per night, depending on the accommodation comfort level and activities. Our packages offer excellent value with transparent pricing.
Our Tarangire safari prices typically include accommodation, all meals, game drives and other described activities, park fees, experienced guides, airport transfers and 24/7 support from our team. Specific inclusions vary by package – contact us for detailed itineraries.
You only make your first payment when you book your Tarangire holiday. Your second (last) payment is about 90 days before you travel.
We have been handcrafting experiential safaris since 1991. Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?
Booking through a respected tour operator with many years of experience means that all you need to focus on is helping us design your safari and then having a superb vacation. The rest - all the nitty-gritty detail and admin is done while you relax. Our 24/7 concierges take care of problems such as flight changes and missed flights, last-minute road transfer and lodge changes due to unexpected events, and itinerary changes requested by you.
Remember that you will not save money by attempting to book and manage your own safari, but you will inherit mistakes and problems that arise.
Yes, your money is safe. Your payments go into a third-party TRUST ACCOUNT - protecting them in the unlikely event of a financial setback on our part. Also, we are members of SATSA who attest to our integrity, legal compliance and financial stability. See what travellers say about us.
By booking your safari with Africa Geographic, you make a significant difference because:
We donate a portion of every safari sold to selected conservation efforts at ground level
Your safari supports our conservation publishing efforts, which educate the world about Africa's incredible biodiversity and the local people who protect it
Our chosen lodges support local community initiatives, ensuring that tourism benefits the nearby villages directly. They also adhere to strict environmental practices, such as limited vehicle numbers and sustainable camp operations, which help protect the ecosystem
YOUR safari choice does make a difference - thank you!
Start planning your Tarangire safari
Our travel experts will craft a no-obligation itinerary just for you. We have crafted over 5,000 safaris since 1991. Your personal details are protected; we only use this information to contact you.
Why choose us to craft your safari?
Handcrafted experiential safaris since 1991.
Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?
Trust & Safety
Guest payments go into a third-party TRUST ACCOUNT - protecting them in the unlikely event of a financial setback on our part. Also, we are members of SATSA who attest to our integrity, legal compliance and financial stability.
Make a difference
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
YOUR safari choice does make a difference - thank you!